Armor-piercing projectile.



H. B. STRANGE.

ARMOR PIERCING PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY BLAND STRANGE, 0F BLACKHEATH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 THOS. FIR-TH AND SONS LIMITED, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

ARMOR-PIERCING PROJECTILE.

T 0 allwhom it may concern: '7 J i Be it known that I, HARRY BLAND STRANGE, subject of the King of England, residing at Blackheath, Kent, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Armor-Piercing Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to armor-piercing projectiles and has particular reference to projectiles of the type which are provided with a liner wherein is contained the bursting charge.

A projectile according to this invention is furnished with a liner which is capable of moving longitudinally on the shock of impact in the cavity which contains it and between the liner and an inner casing which contains the explosive, elastic or compressible material is provided. The shape of the cavity containing the liner and the shape and size of the liner itself are such that when the liner moves forward on the shock of impact it is compressed or slightly distorted, this action breaking the force of impact on the liner, and the provision of the elastic or compressible material between the liner and the inner casing permits this compression or distortion to take place without dangerous pressure being exerted on the explosive. The rear or base of the liner conveniently fits into a coned or tapered seating so that on the shock of discharge sufficient friction is set up to prevent the rotation of the liner.

Another feature of the liner according to this invention is that it forms an entirely closed envelop for the explosive and is not rigidly connected to the shell body so that the linermay remain intact even if the shell body he fractured on impact.

The accompanying drawing is a central longitudinal section through one construction of armor-piercing projectile according to this invention the point of the projectile being broken away.

The shell body A is formed with a cavity to contain a liner B which however in its normal position as shown in the drawing does not extend so far as the forward end A of the cavity. The liner B is provided with a central screwed plug or partition C provided with holes or passages G and acting Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,963.

to divide the liner into two compartments.

Each of these compartments is furnished papier mach or other suitable material.

adapted to contain the explosive with which the shell is charged and a packing E of cork or other yielding substance of an elastic or compressible nature is provided between the forward inner casing D and the interior of the liner.

The rear end of the liner is slightly coned on the outside as at B to fit into a coned or tapered recess or seating in a screw plug A which closes the rear end .of the shell, the central portion of this plug A accommodates a fuse F which may be of any convenient construction and is provided with a gaine or casing F projecting through the base B of the liner B into a central space made to receive it in the rear inner casing D. It will be seen that the base B screws into the liner B which thus forms a closed envelop for the explosive and is without any rigid connection to the shell body A. This is advantageous as the liner can remain intact even if the shell body is fractured.

The bursting charge in the rear inner casing D is ignited by the explosion consequent on the detonation of the charge contained within the gaine or casing F of the fuse F. I On the shock of discharge the liner B tends to set back and there is sufiicient friction between its conical base B and the tapered seating in the end plug A of the shell to prevent the liner from any rotary movement relatively to the shell. On impact occurring the liner moves forward in the cavity its front end being somewhat compressed or distorted on entering the end or nose A of the cavity. This compression or distortion is prevented from having any injurious effect on the explosive contained in the inner casing D by the packing of cork or other elastic or compressible material E. As previously mentioned the shock of impact is sutlicient to disengage the gains or casing F of the fuse from the fuse body F and thus the casing F moves forward with the liner so that the explosive charge which it contains remains in the proper position inner casing D.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a projectile, the combination with the body hollowed to form a chamber, of a casing containing the explosive charge longitudinally movable within the chamber with 2. In a projectile, the combination with the body hollowed to form a chamber, of a casing containing the explosive charge longitudinally movable within the chamber with a free space between the forward end of the casing and forward end of the chamber, and deformable material at the forward end of the casing in frictional engagement with the walls of the chamber, the size and .shape of the chamber and easing being such that on impact of the projectile the deformable material will be deformed into the free space and the shock of'impact on the charge absorbed.

3. In a projectile, the combination with the body hollowed to form a chamber, of a casing containing 'the charge capable of longitudinal movement in the chamber on impact of projectile, said chamber and casing having direct frictional contacting surfaces whereby shock of impact on the casing will be absorbed.

4:. In a projectile the combinationwith a body hollowed to form a chamber, of a casing containing the explosive charge movable longitudinally within the chamber on im pact of the projectile, the casing and chamber having frictionally contacting surfaces, said chamber and casing being so shaped as that frictional resistance to the forward movement of the casing increases as the casing advances.

5. In a projectile, the combination with the body hollowed to form a chamber, of a casing of deformable material containing the explosive charge longitudinally movable in the chamber with a free space between the forward end of the casing and forward end of the chamber into which space the material of the casing at the forward end may be deformed on impact of the projectile, and a yielding material interposed between the casing'and the charge at the forward end of the casing.

6. In a projectile, the combination. of a body hollowed to form a chamber, the

diameter of which is less at its forward end,

of a casing containing the explosive charge Within the chamber of less length than the chamber, said casing being of less diameter body hollowed to form a chamber the diameter of which is less at its forward end, a liner Within the cavity of this chamber of less length than the chamber and like the chamber of less diameter at its forward end; explosive material disposed in the liner a wrapping inclosing the explosive material, V

and a packing of a yielding substance disposed at and aroundthe forward part of the explosive between the wrapping inclosing the explosive and the liner as set forth.

8. In a projectile the combination with a body hollowed to form a chamber, a liner which so fits the cavity of this chamber as to permit of forward movement of the liner within the chamber on impact of the projectile, a plug having an internally coned surface closing the rear end of the chamber, a coned surface at the rear of the liner adapted to engage the coned surface of the plug, a layer of a yielding substance within the forward part of the liner, and explosive material disposed in the liner with the yielding substance enwrapping its forward end as set forth.

{9. In a projectile the combination'of a body hollowed to form a chamber, a plug inclosing the rear end of this chamber, a

liner of deformable material which so fits theca vity of the chamber as to permit of forward movement of the liner within the I chamber on impact of the projectile and be deformed at its forward end, a plug closing the rear end of the liner which thus forms an envelop for the explosive which isen- 'tirely closed and not rigidly connected to the shell body, a layer of a yielding substance in the forward end of the liner, and explosive material disposed in the liner with the yielding substance enwrapping its forward end as set forth.

'10. In a projectile the combination of a body hollowed to form a chamber, a plug the liner intermediate of its length and diber of the hner and surrounding the inwardly projecting part of the fuse as set 13 forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY BLAND STRANGE.-

Witnesses:

ALFRED HORACE PACKHAM, WALLACE JAMES Conn. 

